Category: Geo Politics

The Times of Israel: The Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial center on Thursday slammed an agreement between the governments of Israel and Poland regarding the latter’s record during the Holocaust, saying it would stifle free research on the subject.

A joint declaration issued by Warsaw and Jerusalem “contains highly problematic wording that contradicts existing and accepted historical knowledge in this field,” the institution said in a press release.… Be Informed

In a world where disruption has become the order of the day, managing risk is becoming more and more important and relevant. The geopolitical changes we are currently witnessing are the beginning of a new cycle, and pose new challenges – thus the importance of keeping informed and understanding the implications of the ongoing changes.… Be Informed

The Sunday Times of Malta’s Deputy Editor Anthony Manduca writes “US President Donald Trump’s deplorable behaviour at the G7 summit in Canada really was a turning point in the relationship between America and its traditional allies. Trump showed that he does not value the multilateral international order or the transatlantic alliance, nor does he appreciate the importance of having strong allies and friends who share common values.… Be Informed

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has stated that the escalation of fighting in Derna – eastern Libya – has reached unprecedented levels due to the use of airstrikes and artillery shelling.

“Some of the attacks have been targeting residential areas, besides heavy ground clashes.” OHCA added in a report on Thursday.… Be Informed

Poland’s government has asked Moscow to explain why Russia has refused entry to the head of Poland’s Institute of international affairs, the Polish Foreign Ministry said on May 29.

Slawomir Debski was told by border guards at Moscow’s Domodedovo Airport on May 29 that his visa had been canceled and that he was banned from entering Russia until March 2021, Polish Foreign Ministry spokesman Artur Lompart said.… Be Informed

This follows the collapse of a the previous effort to form a 5-Star Movement/League government led by law professor Giuseppe Conte, when Mattarella refused to approve the nomination of Eurosceptic economist Paolo Savona as economy minister, citing the risk of financial turbulence.… Be Informed

Right-winger Ivan Duque, who intends to reform the peace pact with the FARC ex-guerrilla, won the first round of the Presidential election in Colombia on Sunday. He didn’t obtain an absolute majority. This means that there is the need of another ballot with the leftist Gustavo Petro, who promises economic and social changes.… Be Informed

Donald Trump tweeted “Our United States team has arrived in North Korea to make arrangements for the Summit between Kim Jong Un and myself. I truly believe North Korea has brilliant potential and will be a great economic and financial Nation one day.… Be Informed

The Times of Israel reports that “An Israeli tank fired on an Islamic Jihad position in the southern Gaza Strip on Sunday morning, killing at least two people, after Palestinians planted an explosive device along the security fence in the latest exchange along the restive border, the army said.… Be Informed

The US has warned Syria it will take “firm and appropriate measures” if government forces violate a ceasefire by launching an anticipated assault on the rebel-held region of Daraa.

Emboldened by recent victories over rebel outposts near Damascus, government forces of President Bashar al-Assad were on Wednesday reportedly moving into the Daraa province, and Syrian government aircraft have dropped leaflets there calling on rebels to surrender or face being killed.… Be Informed

Radio Free Europe reports that Oleg Vladimirovich Ivannikov’s atypical voice led to the conclusion, the 51-year-old was “with very high certainty”, as being a missile specialist who was in charge of military operations in eastern Ukraine during an “undercover deployment” by Russia at the time of the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 in 2014.… Be Informed

“This government game either closes within the next 24 hours or does not close anymore, we have already waited long enough”. This was stated by the political leader of the M5s, Luigi Di Maio. Along the same lines the leader of the Lega, Matteo Salvini: “Either we leave or it is enough for us, I refuse to treat again for weeks”.… Be Informed

South Korean President Moon Jae-In said that the North Korean President Kim Jong Un reaffirmed his commitment to ‘complete’ the denuclearisation process in the Korean peninsula. He is also committed towards a planned meeting with US President Donald Trump.

A surprise summit between the leaders of the two Koreas took place on Saturday.… Be Informed

The leaders of North and South Korea have met in the demilitarised border area between the two countries.

The BBC reports that this summit comes as the two sides continue efforts to put a US-North Korea summit back on track after the decision taken by US President Trump to pull out of the summit that was scheduled for 12th.… Be Informed

Italy risks to go back to vote. 82 days since the last Italian election, the country is still without a government. Although M5s and Lega have agreed on the appointment of Giuseppe Conte as Prime Minister, there seem to be more differences than agreements on the team who will be leading the country.… Be Informed

About 50 people have died after a boat capsized on a river in the Democratic Republic of Congo, officials say. More than 60 people survived when the boat tipped over as it was travelling from Monkoto to Mbandaka.

The Congo River is the second longest in Africa, and, with a maximum depth of more than 220 metres, the world’s deepest.… Be Informed

Vladimir Putin denied that the missile which brought down a Malaysian airliner in July 2014, killing almost 300 people was a Russian military piece of equipment.

This was the first reaction for the Russian President after a Dutch investigation report published this week concluded that the Buk missile had come from the Russian 53rd anti-aircraft missile brigade in Kursk.… Be Informed